Coach L Named Finalist for Phelan Award

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Miami men’s basketball coach Jim Larrañaga continuesto earn recognition for the Hurricanes’ historic season.

Larrañaga, who led Miami to its firstACC regular-season title in school history, was named one of 20 finalists forthe 2013 Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year award on Thursday.

“Somany coaches did a great job this season,” CollegeInsider.com‘s Riley Wallace said. “The coaches on thislist did an exceptional job.” 

CoachL was voted ACC Coach of the Year by the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association (ACSMA). He also was named the District IV Coach ofthe Year by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA). He is alsoa finalist for the Skip Prosser Award.

Under Larrañaga’stutelage, Miami finished the regular season 24-6 – tied for the most wins inprogram history. The Canes were ranked as high as No. 2 in the country,defeated No. 1 Duke and hosted five capacity crowds at the BankUnited Centerthis season, all firsts in program 

Larrañaga, 63, is inhis second season as Miami’s 12th head coach. Prior to joining the Hurricanes,Larrañaga spent 14 seasons at George Mason University, where he led thePatriots to the 2006 Final Four. He also spent 11 seasons at Bowling Green andtwo seasons at American International. In 29 seasons as a head coach, the 1971Providence College graduate has a career record of 514-353.

TheJim Phelan Award is presented annually to the nation’s top Division I coach.The award is named in honor of Jim Phelan, who coached his entire career atMount Saint Mary’s University. He led the Mountaineers to the 1962 NCAA Men’sDivision II Basketball Championship. When he retired in 2003, after coachingfor 49 years, he amassed 830 wins (overall record of 830-524) in more than1,300 games in all divisions. In those 49 years, 19 of his teams amassed 20 ormore wins in a season.

The2013 recipient will be announced at the CollegeInsider.comawards banquet in Atlanta, site of the 2013 NCAA Division I Men’s BasketballChampionship. 

2013 JIM PHELAN AWARD FINALISTS